Kingcrimsonprog Pearl Jam’s 2013 album, Lightning Bolt, was their fourth consecutive album with Matt Cameron on drums and Boom Gaspar on guest keyboards. It was the sixth out of their ten studio efforts to be produced by famed producer Brendan O’Brian. It was released shortly after all the celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary.

I was incredibly pleased with the band’s previous effort, 2009’s superb Backspacer album, and was slightly concerned initially that the band would perhaps not be able to follow up such a strong effort this late in their career. I needn’t have worried because Lightning Blot continues the trend of really inspired material and bright performances. While not just as upbeat and summery as its predecessor, it is equally well-written and enjoyable.

The album follows a nice journey, that begins a bit jangly, takes off into a solid rock flavor and ends in balladry. There’s a bit of variety, and you can here touches of different Pearl Jam eras from No Code-esque stuff to Riot Act style material, but it all fits together well.

The songs are fairly concise, and not overlong, mirroring the record itself… there isn’t much extra filler or any weird experimental outros. Its just half a record of the band rocking out and having good fun, and half thoughtful songwriters crafting meaningful pieces, a rather nice balance of the band’s two main directions anyway. Speedy, aggressive moments like “My Father’s Son” balance out contemplative, haunting moments like “Pendulum.”

Highlights include the sad yet jaunty ballad “Sleeping By Myself,” the powerful garage rock number “Let The Records Play,” the catchy single “Mind Your Manners” and the excellent Title Track.

Overall; Lightning Bolt is a strong and entertaining album, and I wouldn’t find it too unreasonable to claim that it was rated firmly in the top-half of their discography.

Kingcrimsonprog Pearl Jam’s ninth studio album Backspacer has probably grown to become my favourite Pearl Jam album to date, I did like it initially, but even so it just grew on me more and more with every listen. The album was released in 2009 and saw the band strip back their sound to deliver a light a fun set of rock songs with a new wave influence alongside some wonderful ballads and quieter moments.

The album is fairly short and easy to digest, there isn’t a great deal of complexity in the songwriting, no overly challenging artistic tracks can be found either. Rather than make for a dull and forgettable record, Backspacer is a revelation because of this; one of the tightest and most concise records in the Pearl Jam catalougue that delivers good time vibes and tear-to-the-eye moments in equal measure.

Standout songs include the fun ‘Johnny Guitar,’ and ‘Got Some,’ as well as the powerful ‘Force Of Nature,’ and ‘Amongst The Waves,’ but in fairness, every single track is good, this is a thoroughly consistent album, bordering on the flawless.

If you really liked the direction of the previous three Pearl Jam records, Backspacer may be something of a shock, but give it a fair chance and you’ll be rewarded with one of the band’s best works to date.

I highly recommend Backspacer. I haven’t listened to a Pearl Jam album so frequently for so long after its initial release in years. Its not big and its not complicated, but it is pretty much a perfect album nonetheless.

bassgeezer Ten is one of the masterpieces of grunge. Ten is a masterpiece of hard rock. Whatever genre you think this album should be in it is definitely a masterpiece. That Alive riff is a killer. I love Nirvana’s Nevermind, but I wasn’t surprised to hear that Ten’s sales overtook those of Nevermind. Nevermind is the classic grunge album, but Ten has something extra, which is why it does not fit neatly into the grunge category. That Jeremy melody is a killer too. And Mike McCready’s guitar solos are an absolute pleasure. Eddie Vedder’s lyrics are a class above, and Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament both have exemplary song-writing skills.